Page 145 of Antihero

Before he could hide the screen, Finn-Finn leaned over his shoulder, breathing baloney fumes. “Dude, dude! Says they’ll pay double royalties for live-stream content before the weekend!”

“Why live-stream?” Mikey asked.

B-Roll said, “Prob’ly uses different servers and content-delivery networks and shit. So those ones didn’t get virus-fucked like the uploaded content did.”

“Double royalties,” Finn-Finn said. “Double royalties.”

B-Roll said, “Glad my dick’s finally getting paid what it’s worth,” and the guys cracked up.

Taz tried to keep the worry from his voice: “What day’z it today?”

Big Mikey said, “February, I think.”

“Day of the week, dumb shit.”

“Dunno. Check your phone.”

Taz tapped his phone. Wednesday, Feb 11.

“Let’s move Blanca up,” B-Roll said. “Do her tomorrow, upload Friday in time to qualify for the bonus.”

“’Kay, ’kay,” Finn-Finn said.

“Where we gonna do it?” Mikey said. “I mean, no Manny. There’s no Manny, which means no crash pads.”

“Mebbe we should put it off,” Taz said weakly. “Till we can lock down something secure.”

“Double royalties, bitch,” B-Roll said. “I’m not putting off shit. We can do it at my place.”

“Won’t she know your address then?” Taz said.

“Ain’t my address,” B-Roll said. “Month to month, paid in cash money. ’S not even in my name. Any heat and I can bounce. But I ain’t worried. I got this one wrapped tight. I know the type. She won’t do shit about anything. We can tell her that if she talks, we’ll do her little sister next.”

“Heh,” Finn-Finn said. “Heh.”

“Cool, cool,” B-Roll said. “I can set up cams for live stream. And I still got some of the props there from last time. Was gonna bring ’em back to Manny but whoops, he’s in jail.”

Mikey said, “’T’s why we’re doing it our own fuckin’ selves.”

“Good props,” B-Roll said as he dialed. “It’ll be a good show.” He held up a wait-a-sec finger, put his phone to his ear. Then: “Hey, Beauty. Friday won’t work no more.” A beat. “I’m bummed, too. But Luce’s gotta be with her birth dad now for the weekend.” He listened, rolling his eyes. “I know, I know, I really want her to meet you, too. Now we’re watching The Little Mermaid tomorrow…”

Mikey said, “Isn’t there a Gray’s Papaya around here?”

Finn-Finn shushed him hard.

B-Roll: “Really? Thursday’s a half day for you? Okay. Sure. We can meet after school, pretend it’s a trig study group.” He made the universal jerk-off signal to Taz and Finn-Finn. Big Mikey was too busy Googling hot-dog places to see.

Taz’s temples were throbbing, his head humming loud enough that B-Roll’s words sounded fuzzy. He wanted to throw up or run into traffic. He realized he was biting down hard on the inside of his cheek.

“I mean, I didn’t want to push you,” B-Roll went on, still air jacking off. “Want to respect boundaries, you know. But if you could? Luce’d be so happy.” A beat. “Maybe me, too,” he answered, putting a smile into his voice. “Okay. Fine. A little. I’d be a little happy, too.” He hung up. “Got her for tomorrow.”

Mikey belly laughed, raised a high-five hand to Taz, said, “Let the countdown begin!”

Taz swallowed blood, unclenched his jaw, mustered an unsteady grin.

And returned the high five.

54Last Man Standing